Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month February 2025
The #MoreThanJustHeartburn Campaign
February is Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month, a dedicated time to raise awareness about the risks and symptoms of oesophageal cancer – one of the most challenging cancers to detect early. Our goal is to encourage those experiencing persistent heartburn to take action and visit their GP practice before it’s too late.
Throughout February, Heartburn Cancer UK will be running a wide-reaching awareness campaign to spotlight oesophageal cancer symptoms and the dangers of untreated persistent heartburn.
A Deadly Cancer that Hides in Plain Sight
Because heartburn is so common – you, and most other adults, have probably experienced it at some stage – it’s easy to downplay, ignore or dismiss even when it comes back again and again, often with no obvious cause.
However not all heartburn is harmless, it could be a warning sign of Oesophageal cancer.
Cancer of the oesophagus is one of the UK’s least survivable cancers. This is often because it’s diagnosed far too late.
Symptom awareness that leads to early diagnosis is key to improving survival. The signals can be there. They’re just not treated in the right way.
In the stories of people who have died of oesophageal cancer, we often hear phrases like ‘She had heartburn for years but thought it was normal’ and ‘He just kept taking the Gaviscon and got on with it’.
It’s a world littered with missed opportunities.
We’re determined to change that.
Not all Heartburn is Harmless
Cancer of the oesophagus is deadly, especially for men
- It’s the 7th biggest cancer killer in the UK – the 4th biggest for men – despite being only the 14th most common. Around 8,000 people die from it each year.
- It’s important to get untreated heartburn under control – even in younger people – as a cancer prevention measure. The acid causing the symptoms also causes the cell damage that can later lead to cancer.
- If someone finds out they have the potentially precancerous condition, Barrett’s oesophagus, it can worry them, but it can also be seen as a gift. Most people with Barrett’s DO NOT go on to develop oesophageal cancer. But it is the earliest of early warnings. It’s a risk factor that can be monitored and managed through ongoing tests, medication and lifestyle changes.
- Self-medicating with over-the-counter or off-the-shelf products, such as Gaviscon or Rennie, should always be seen as only a short term solution. At pharmacies, people buying the treatments should be told, if their symptoms continue for three weeks or more, they should speak to their GP practice and get it checked.
Shining a Light on Oesophageal Cancer
Throughout Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month, we are focusing on increasing awareness through a range of activities, including:
- Lighting up the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth
- Outdoor advertising campaigns
- Coverage in local press and radio
- Collaboration with GP practices, pharmacies and Cancer Alliances to spread key messages
- Community engagement events, where our teams will visit various locations to speak directly with members of the public about heartburn and oesophageal cancer
- Networking with local organisations
- We’ll also be running an extensive social media campaign throughout the month, sharing key messages, patient stories, and important information to reach as many people as possible
How you can get Involved
Meet the HCUK Team and Healthcare Professionals
Throughout February, members of Heartburn Cancer UK, Wessex Cancer Alliance, and healthcare professionals from across the Wessex region will be visiting various local venues.
If you’re nearby, we’d love for you to stop by, say hello, and have a chat. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about heartburn, its link to oesophageal cancer, and how early diagnosis can make a life-saving difference.
- Tuesday 4th February 2025: Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1UN
- Wednesday 5th February 2025: Waterlooville High Street, Hampshire
- Tuesday 25th February 2025: Lawrence Square, Gosport High Street, Hampshire, PO12 1EB
- Wednesday 26th February 2025: New Bond Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8LY
Spinnaker Tower Ignites Awareness for Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month
At the start of February we lit up Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower like a flame in yellow and red to launch Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month.
This striking display serves as a powerful reminder that not all heartburn is harmless. Fiona Labrooy, COO at Heartburn Cancer UK, explains, “The flaming tower will get people asking questions. We want to raise awareness so people think seriously about persistent heartburn.”
Persistent heartburn can be a warning sign of oesophageal cancer, yet symptoms are often overlooked. If you regularly rely on over-the-counter remedies or have had heartburn for three weeks or more, it’s important to speak to your GP – it could save your life.
Throughout February, we’ll be raising awareness, sharing stories, and encouraging people to take symptoms seriously.
If you’re in Portsmouth, we encourage you to visit the tower while it’s lit up and share your photos to help spread the message.
Watch our Patient Stories
We’re sharing powerful stories from people who have been directly affected by oesophageal cancer. These personal accounts highlight the real-life impact of the disease and why early diagnosis is so important.
We invite you to watch and share these videos with your friends and family. By spreading awareness, you can help others recognise the signs and encourage them to seek medical advice sooner—potentially saving lives.
Read our Patient Stories
Get it Checked
Join the Conversation on Social Media
Help us raise awareness about oesophageal cancer by connecting with us on social media. Like, follow, and share our posts to spread the message and encourage others to recognise the symptoms and seek help early. Together, we can make a real difference.
Follow us on:
See if you can spot our Outdoor Advertising
Throughout February and March, we’ll be running a series of advertising campaigns designed to reach as many people as possible. From adverts on fuel pumps to posters at bus stops, GP practices and Pharmacies, we’re working hard to raise awareness about persistent heartburn and oesophageal cancer in everyday places. Our goal is to spark conversations and encourage people to take action early. Keep an eye out – you might just spot one of our campaigns in your local area.
Look Out for our Campaign Materials in GP Practices and Pharmacies
We’ve also created posters, leaflets and material for digital screens that cover everything you need to know about heartburn and its link to oesophageal cancer. Keep an eye out for these materials in your local GP practices and pharmacies!
Listen out for us on Local Radio
Through out February we are sponsoring the popular Keep Driving show on Keep 106, a popular community radio station based in the Weymouth and Portland area. So tune in to 106.3FM and online, between 3pm-6pm and hear our jingle!
Radio Solent Interview
Keep 106 FM jingle
Read about our Campaign in the National Press
The Sun – https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/33074909/oesophageal-cancer-symptoms-heartburn-burping-dinner/
The Sun – https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/33077539/brother-died-partner-heartburn-symptom/
The Mirror – https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/man-persistent-heartburn-gets-life-34579518
The Daily Mail – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14338397/Man-discovers-persistent-heartburn-sign-cancer.html
Surrey Live: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/hampshire-news/brothers-death-common-symptom-ignore-30887714
Gloucestershire Live – https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/health/brothers-death-common-symptom-ignore-9902136
The Express – https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/2007393/womans-tragic-loss-leads-life-saving-diagnosis-partner
Gloucestershire Live on MSN – https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/brothers-death-with-common-symptom-we-all-ignore-saved-husbands-life/ar-AA1y37SP
The Bournemouth Echo – Dorset: Oesophageal cancer warning issued by Heartburn UK | Bournemouth Echo
Yahoo News – Warning that persistent heartburn could be sign of cancer
Read about our Campaign on the Keep106 Website
Keep106 is a community radio covering central and southern Dorset, run not for profit by volunteers.
We are very grateful that they featured our campaign on their station and their website, you can read more here. They also featured Joy’s story on their site too, thank you Keep106, your support has been amazing!
Read about our Campaign in Offshore Energy Magazine
